Tips for better use of OsmAnd+

OsmAnd+ is a powerful app, but its user interface is not very intuitive. At first sight it appears that desired features are not available like they are in Locus Pro or OruxMaps. However, many features are possible, but sometimes require a bit of manipulation of .xml files. Below are some features we have been looking for and how we got access to them. All comments below are applicable to OsmAnd+ 1.9.4.

Exporting selected Favorites

OsmAnd has no feature to export selected favorites you created. All favorites are stored in a file called favourites.gpx in the main OsmAnd folder. The category you have defined for each favorite (shops, campsites, ...) can be found in the file per favorite as something like <category>shops</category>. As <category> is not an approved OSM tag you may not find it if you export the file to for example OKmaps. You then only see the coordinates and name. In order to make the favorites visible you will have to copy and edit the favourites.gpx file manually.

Removing categories

It is easy to create new categories of favorites, but it is not trivial to remove categories. You can do so by going to Favourites and then clicking the waste bin without selecting a favorite first. You now get checkboxes for categories as well as individual favorites. By selecting the category you want to remove and clicking the waste bin again you delete the category and its contents.

Map styles

OsmAnd+ comes with a number of map styles, but has little flexibility to adapt the map style. However, it is possible to add new styles by copying them to the folder rendering. In such a style only the difference with the selected standard style needs to be defined. Note that the filename has to end with .render.xml Examplescan be found here.

Line width of planned route and completed track

One of the nasty things in the map display of OsmAnd+ is the width the line of the calculated route and completed track. It is so wide that you cannot see the color (=grade) of the road and road numbers anymore. As no standard feature exists to adapt line width or color this has to be done with a new render file. Using a render file it appears that the width of the completed track can be adapted, for the calculated route that doesn't work. However, for both it is possible to create a dashed line and to change the color.

Therefore I made a small render file that shows the completed track as a thin red line and the calculated route as a dashed red line. To make it work copy this file to the folder rendering and select it as map style in map configuration.